Hey Chris,
I enjoy pursuing my self improvement. However, I notice that my biggest struggle is consistency.
I’ll read, meditate and do self care when I can…but only when I can.
How can I improve my consistency to see real results in my efforts?
Signed,
Inconsistent
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You are not alone, inconsistent, so take heart.
I applaud your willingness to engage in reading, meditating and self care. You certainly have a leg up on the self improvement journey.
And recognizing that your challenge is consistency is huge. Most can’t see that clearly.
There are books on “habits” and how to create and stick with them, on the New York Times bestseller list. You can certainly invest there, since reading is something you enjoy.
However, I will suggest that there is something far more powerful, than reading a book on habits and how to establish and follow one with consistency.
And that is…
Your “why.”
- Why do you want to pursue your own self development?
- Why is it important to you?
I will argue, that when you know your why and it’s importance, the how to consistently, appears.
Let me give you an example.
I went to a fabulous resort in Arizona in my late 30’s. It was amazing. I learned how to meditate while there and found it to be life changing. It relaxed me and for the first time in my life, I experienced a deep sense of peace.
When I returned home and back to work, that was ALL GONE. Work has a way of doing that…lol So I decided I would make the investment in a meditation bench and clear a space in my day to take care of me.
Well, then travel started in my job. So that went out the window…even though I loved that bench…smile
Fast forward…when I began my consulting business and experienced the stress of adding customers and contracts to my business, I knew I needed something to help me find peace.
The bench…
I MADE the time to meditate at least once a week. Today, I actually get up 30 minutes earlier than I have to for work…to meditate. It makes such a difference that if I’m traveling and don’t have the opportunity to sit for 20 minutes and connect…I’m “off balance” the entire day.
All of that to say, I know my WHY and why it’s important to my form of self development. Without it, there is less of me in the world.
When you can identify YOUR why and why it’s important, then consistency will be yours. You will do whatever you have to, to make it happen.
Start with one thing.
- It may be reading for a number of minutes per day/week/month.
- It may be meditating for any number of minutes per day/week/month.
- It may be a form of self care that rocks, for any number of minutes per day/week/month.
Don’t beat yourself up about which thing, how many minutes, etc. Just start, feel into it and trust the process.
The “bench” will reveal itself to you and it will feel like the most natural thing in the world to you.
That’s when you’ll walk through walls to “be” consistent with it.
Good luck!
~ Find the gift!
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